1996 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

WHILE TRAVELING AND APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE. SHE HAS TO PUMP THE BRAKES. ABS BRAKING SYSTEM DOESN'T KICK IN THERE IS A THUMPING NOISE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.,

WHILE DRIVING MOTOR BLEW A HEAD GASKET WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER. CONTACTED DEALER, AND VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED.*AK

THEY HAVE RECALLED 94 AND 1995 VERSIONS OF THE SAME ENGINE. PROBLEM NOT FIXED.*AK

SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES AND IS INACCURATE, ESPECIALLY ABOVE 45MPH. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER WINDSTAR OWNERS REPORT THE SAME THING!*AK

SPEEDOMETER IS ERRATIC AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH AND VARIES PLUS OR MINUS 30-40 MPH. *AK

ABS FALSE ACTIVATED AT LOW SPEED. PROBABLY TYPICAL FOR A VEHICLE WITH SUCH HIGH MILEAGE.*AK

FAILURE OF THE SPEEDOMETER WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE JUMPS ERRATICALLY WHILE DRIVING FASTER THAN 30MPH. THE SPEEDOMETER WILL EVENTUALLY PEG AT 120MPH, EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE DRIVING AT SLOWER SPEEDS. ACCORDING TO MY REPAIR SHOP, THE SPEED SENSOR BROKE, BUT FORD REQUIRES A VERY COSTLY REPAIR THAT INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF THE WHOLE SPEEDOMETER HEAD AND SPEED SENSOR. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR AND REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE SYSTEM. PADS/ ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON FIVE OCCASIONS WITHIN FIVE YEARS. REOCCURRING PROBLEM OF A SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM WHEEL WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

HAD JUST PULLED OUT ONTO THE STREET THEN HEARD A SNAP. CHECKED , AND NOTICED LEFT REAR WHEEL HAD KICKED OUT SIDEWAYS AND WAS HITTING THE MUD FLAP. REAR FRAME HOLDING REAR AXLE HAD BROKEN IN HALF. REAR AXLE NEEDED TO BE STRAPPED UP BEFORE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. WE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND HAD TO STEP OVER THE FLAMES COMMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. WITHIN 1 MINUTE, THE VAN WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AT WHICH POINT THE GAS TANK EXPLODED. THE VAN IS COMPLETELY BURNT DOWN TO NOTHING BUT A FRAME. FORD REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.